Native to Maine
Rana sylvatica
Wood Frog
Freshwater
Vernal Pools and Forests
Body Plan and Shape
Full View
Dan Hocking
Dan Hocking
Look for a 3cm - 7cm long frog with a dorsolateral ridge
(raised line along the side of back from snout to rear). Toes
are not heavily webbed. Color is highly variable from light
pinkish brown to nearly black.
Look for a small frog, with a dark "robber's mask" under
and behind the eye. It has a croak that sounds like a "quack."
Life History
A vernal pool is a temporary body of still water
that dries up seasonally.
Seasonal Behaviors
Left:Filckr brian.gratwicke Right:Wikimedia Cephas
In the spring, wood frogs reproduce in vernal pools where
eggs and tadpoles are safer from predators. Adults live on
the forest floor, often far from water.
Similar Species
There are several species of frog in Maine that have the
dorsolateral ridge, including green frogs, leopard frogs and
pickerel frogs, however none have the robbers mask.
Did You Know?
Wood frogs are able to survive being completely frozen in the
winter by concentrating glucose in their cells which acts
similarly to anti-freeze.
Dan Hocking
During the spring mating season, male frogs can be heard
calling for mates. Females will lay huge egg masses in
vernal pools.
Researched by: Caroline Casals and Christine Voyer
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